In the world of technology, this year has been the year of all things relating to smartphones and computer tablets. And so, working with Artez Interactive, the Canadian Red Cross is getting in on the action, launching our first-ever smartphone application for fundraising.
The application, developed by Artez, gives our supporters a chance to set fundraising goals and appeal to their networks of friends on Twitter and Facebook to help them meet those goals. You and your friends can check whether your fundraising goals have been met by watching a thermometer that tracks your progress. 
The app was launched just in time for the holidays –when many are making donations to their favourite charities, but it will be available on an ongoing basis. We suspect the app will be especially popular during appeals when so many people are looking for ways that they can help communities struck by disaster. Having a mobile app – that links to Paypal – can make fundraising instantaneous.
The app is now available on iTunes. Don’t forget, users need to register to fundraise first, which can be done by visiting www.redcross.ca/holiday2010!
Feeling left out because you have a Blackberry or an Android? Don’t despair! We’re working on a cross platform app that will support not only the iPhone, but other mobile devices.
Also, this peer-to-peer fundraising tool is already available on the Red Cross web site for those who want to use the tool on their desktops. “The app is a complimentary extension to our successful peer-to-peer personal fundraising pages. We have been working with partners to enhance our social media and digital fundraising strategies for some time now, and they have been successful for Malaria programs, and for the more recent Haiti and Pakistan appeals. Leveraging the power of the mobile mass is the next step for us,” said Jody Jeffery, Canadian Red Cross manager of national web services.
Kudos go to Artez for developing the costly framework for this application and making it affordable for non-profits to use.
Want more info: Read about the new app in the CBC, on the Artez website